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Sharks News

Wilson Wins 500th

by
San Jose Sharks Staff
/ San Jose Sharks

SAN JOSE, Calif. - San Jose Sharks Head Coach Ron Wilson has become just the 11th coach in National Hockey League history to reach the 500 win plateau as the Sharks defeated the Nashville Predators tonight by a score of 4-3 at HP Pavilion at San Jose.

Wilson now sits tied for 10th place with the legendary Montreal Canadiens coach and NHL Hall-of-Famer Toe Blake on the NHL’s all-time coaches’ wins list.

"It's a tremendous accomplishment," said Sharks Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Wilson. "To join the company he is in speaks for itself."

The Sharks bench boss has special plans to celebrate as the team has the day off on Sunday.

"Before the game, I sadi if we win, I'll fly down and celebrate with my granddaughter at Disneyland," said Ron Wilson. "I never thought I would get 500 wins or coach 1,000 games."

San Jose's coach laughed about number 500 being a close battle.

"Out of 500, I've probably had to sweat out 400," said Wilson. "I can't give enough credit to my assistants. Tim Hunter has been with me 10 years and he and Rob Zettler are invaluable. They don't get any of the blame, but they get any of the credit."

On March 18, 2007 at Colorado, Wilson became just the 13th head coach in NHL history to reach the 1,000-game plateau.

Named as an assistant coach for the 2008 NHL All-Star Game in Atlanta, Wilson is third among active NHL coaches in games coached and wins, behind only Mike Kennan (1278 games, 612 wins) and Jacques Martin (1073 games, 505 wins) with 1064 games and 500 wins.

Hired by San Jose on Dec. 4, 2002, Wilson has posted a 188-128-41 record in 357 NHL games with the Sharks and his .601 points percentage is the highest in franchise history. He is just four wins shy of tying Darryl Sutter for the most San Jose Sharks all-time coaching wins.

In 1064 NHL games with Anaheim, Washington and San Jose, he has a 500-440-124 record.

In his first full three seasons behind the Sharks bench, Wilson led the team to its first appearance in the Western Conference Finals against the Calgary Flames in 2003-04 and advanced to the Western Conference Semi-Finals in 2005-06 and 2006-07.

In 2003-04, Wilson was named runner-up for the Jack Adams Trophy and was named “Best Coach” by The Hockey News.

Internationally, Wilson has been selected by the United States to lead the Olympic Hockey team in 1998, the World Cup of Hockey in 1996 (gold medal) and 2004 (silver medal) and the World Championships in 1994 and 1996 (bronze medal).